The King Street Patriots, a conservative group, began a “True The Vote” campaign in 2009 to prevent voter fraud. Volunteers train to become poll watchers to ensure the election laws are obeyed at the polls.

This Sunday, the Houston Chronicle’s Outlook section featured a full front page story about vote suppression. The article was written by Judith Browne Dianis, co-director of The Advancement Project and Christina Sanders, Texas State Director of The League of Young Voters. It was titled “PartisanTactic Could Suppress Voting”. They were talking about the King Street Patriots, and True the Vote. Here is an excerpt:

To complement the voter suppression efforts, tea party-affiliated groups such as the Houston-based King Street Patriots have vowed to send individuals to observe activities at polling places, which could intimidate voters. Hundreds of volunteers have pledged their time to travel to polling stations, question the rights of fellow Texans to cast their ballots and disrupt polling-place activity if they deem it necessary. The idea of tea party volunteers storming polling places evokes strong images of Jim Crow-era voter suppression.

As someone who grew up in the middle of the civil rights movement in the 60′s in Jackson Mississippi, that last sentence made my blood boil. The Democrat’s Jim Crow laws were specifically directed at preventing African Americans to vote. To compare that to people who are simply poll watchers (most grandmothers and grandfathers, who could not care less about the color of skin), is despicable, and Judith Browne and Christina Sanders should be ashamed. To compare these good people to that time period diminishes what our great civil rights leaders fought against. It diminishes true racism. How do we teach our children what true racism is, when we point to things like this, where there is no racism? Our children start to think either everything is racist, or nothing is. And that is simply wrong.

How do I know these things about the King Street Patriots? Because I have met them, talked to them, and interviewed them. There is not a racist bone in their bodies. This poll watching has NOTHING to do with skin color, and EVERYTHING to do with voter fraud. I might add, that to imagine that a few white grandmotherly types would INTIMIDATE African Americans is an insult to the African Americans as well.

At the last King Street Patriot event I attended I met Earl Jones, who was starting up Crispus Attucks, a black Tea Party group in Sheila Jackson Lee’s district. Imagine! Would a racist group welcome that? So give me a break Ms. Sanders and Ms. Dianis. It’s about issues and beliefs, NOT skin color.

There is a reason the King Street Patriots started True the Vote. Notwithstanding the overt corruption of ACORN and their voter registration fraud, the Patriots had seen it themselves here when they began in Houston in 2009. They saw Election Officials fail to check voters’ identification, and disregard polling documentation requirements. They saw these officials routinely accompany voters to the voting booth telling them who they should vote for, and even voting FOR THEM. All these things are against election laws. There is a reason we have poll watchers. But in so many districts, no one has volunteered to monitor, and all these violations have been ignored.

These things don’t just happen in black neighborhoods, they happen everywhere, and they need to be monitored everywhere. Not one of the King Street Patriots intimidated anyone, nor did they wish to. All they wanted and want is for the laws to be obeyed.

It’s sad to me that we even still have “black neighborhoods” or “white neighborhoods.” I think we have them because of people like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton and Sheila Jackson Lee, whose livelihood depends on keeping us separate, keep spreading class warfare, and sowing seeds of bitterness. Frankly I am SICK of people using race to divide us.

This isn’t about skin color, it’s about fairness. For Dianis and Sanders to spread this kind of false narrative on racial grounds is despicable and disgusting.

A study by the University of Missouri on turnout in Indiana showed that turnout actually increased by about 2 percentage points overall in Indiana in 2006 in the first election after the voter ID law went into effect. There was no evidence that counties with higher percentages of minority, poor, elderly, or less-educated populations suffered any reduction in voter turnout. In fact, “the only consistent and statistically significant impact of photo ID in Indiana is to increase voter turnout in counties with a greater percentage of Democrats relative to other counties.”

In September 2007, The Heritage Foundation released a study analyzing the 2004 election turnout data for all states. This study found that voter ID laws do not reduce the turnout of voters, including African–Americans and Hispanics. Such voters were just as likely to vote in states with ID as in states where just their names were asked at the polling place.

A study by the University of Delaware and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln examined data from the 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006 elections. At both the aggregate and individual levels, the study found that voter ID laws do not affect turnout, including across racial/ethnic/socioeconomic lines. The study concludes that “concerns about voter identification laws affecting turnout are much ado about nothing.”

A survey by American University of registered voters in Maryland, Indiana, and Mississippi to see whether registered voters had photo IDs concluded that “showing a photo ID as a requirement of voting does not appear to be a serious problem in any of the states” because “[a]lmost all registered voters have an acceptable form of photo ID.” Less than 0.5 percent of respondents had neither a photo ID nor citizenship documentation. A 2008 election survey of 12,000 registered voters in all 50 states found that fewer than nine people were unable to vote because of voter ID requirements.

In 2010, a Rasmussen poll of likely voters in the United States showed overwhelming support (82 percent) for requiring photo ID in order to vote in elections. This support runs across ethnic and racial lines; Rasmussen reports that “[t]his is a sentiment that spans demographics, as majorities in every demographic agree.”
A similar study by John Lott in 2006 also found no effect on voter turnout and, in fact, found an indication that reducing voter fraud (through means such as voter ID) may have a positive impact on voter turnout.

In the mis-leading article on Sunday, they say there is no proof of voter fraud. I’d say what the True the Vote folks witnessed was proof, but how does one prove WHO voted after the fact? It’s the perfect crime.

It would be nice if the Sunday article could be retracted for it’s false statements, and the authors apologize, but we know that will never happen, so please share this post with as many Texans as you can. The good people at True the Vote should not be smeared this way, and the truth about Voter ID laws should be out there.

69 Responses

I agree with you and wish we didn’t have “neighborhoods” consisting of mainly one race. My neighborhood is pretty diverse, black, white, hispanic, asian, even some democrats! But in these days and times it’s seems to me mostly economics that create the homogenous neighborhoods, not politics.

I don’t support any tactic that would suppress a citizen’s right to properly vote, but I assume just monitoring is not a bad thing. Just to be picky, how many fraudulent voters has The King Street Patriots uncovered in their monitor effort?

*Note: I think I listed what they saw and they did report each and every one. I’m not sure of the numbers, but surely, you feel as I do, that every vote is sacred. Our elections are so close now, that it is imperative that every vote be clean. My neighborhood is also very diverse, and I am grateful for that, especially for my kids. We are all in this together, no matter what color, race, or religion. We need to understand that and stop letting politicians and race baiters divide us.-TexasSparkle

When I voted in our recent city election, as I was walking out the door, a guy handed me some literature and said, “Voters will be required to present photo I.D. in future elections.” Taking the papers, I firmly said, “GOOD,” and he stared at me like I was pig tracks.

the article is correct, there is really no proof voter fraud is happening in any meaningful way in this country. If that group really witnessed (not just hearsay) that voter fraud was occurring at a polling place they should of contacted the police and DA.

We have laws against Poll Taxes and requiring things that cost money is a poll tax in another form. Shouldn’t we as a free society try to reduce every barrier to voting? I thought Republicans were against Govt interference? Isn’t requiring govt issued papers totally against that?

Your little comment of “Democrats” Jim Crow laws is misleading (I suspect on purpose), Democrats in the 60′s and before were not the same as today’s. Back then Democrats in the south would be called Republicans today.

I was impressed you managed to distinguish voter fraud from voter registration fraud. No doubt ACORN’s policy of paying people per new registration was foolish, but there is zero evidence that any of those fraudulent registrations lead to someone trying to vote as “Mickey Mouse”.

There is zero doubt in my mind that the whole right-wing voter fraud push is rooted in suppressing Democratic leaning voters.

As I said in the post there is no way to know how much voter fraud occurs. It’s the perfect crime. Why would anyone want to fight efforts to ensure a clean vote? It would help if you learned history. The Democrats who imposed Jim Crow laws became Dixiecrats, but when failing to fight against integration almost ALL of them returned to the Democratic party. Bull Connor actually ordered those hoses and dogs, and he was a Democrat till he died. The “Dixiecrats” all came back to the Democrat party, with the exception of Strom Thurmund. That’s right. Richard Russell, Mendell Rivers, Clinton’s mentor William Fulbright, former Klansman (Grand Knight!) Robert Byrd, Fritz Hollings, Bull Conner, and Al Gore Sr. ALL remained Democrats till their dying day. This isn’t my opinion. This isn’t speculation. This is history. This is truth. Truth is a wonderful thing. You give much credence to Ronald Reagan’s old saying, “the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn’t so.”

You’ve got something really odd going on with your constant defense against tea party/republican/conservative racism issues. Racism isn’t just black and white anymore. It’s not about repubs versus dems. That’s just silly. And just because somebody ‘tells’ you that they aren’t racist doesn’t make it so. Who would be so ignorant as to say it outloud and in mixed company at that? If you have a diversity of friends and family like I do, then you surely know that the more intimate the setting, the more likely people will share their true feelings. Yes, history is important, but you can’t seem to live in the now with this issue. The racism of today has so little to do with just the color of one’s skin. It’s more in the area of complete intolerance of the other…be it skin color, nationality, religion, sexual preference or the newest one, political affiliation! That one is what really puzzles me. It’s almost like you think Democrats are your enemies. We are not. I’m so glad that you claim to be tolerant of others. I truly hope you are. But, reading your blog comments and opinions leads me to believe you are not as tolerant as you claim. You do try hard to appear so, I’ll give you that. But, Sparkle, there’s an old ‘historical’ saying that applies to all of us. “Actions speak louder than words.”

*note: I’ll put my “actions” up to anyone’s. My constant defense is due to the constant attack and lies. I just won’t let that stand. It’s also affected by the way I grew up, around true racism. I am sick of the race baiters dividing us, and that is never Republicans. I don’t see Democrats as my enemies. I have good friends who are Democrats. It’s not the regular people, it’s the leaders. I find their policies are dangerous for our country. I think they hide behind the mask of being moderate, but they work for radical things. The media is biased, so the Democrats who vote never get both sides of the story.-TexasSparkle

You choose to not address the problem that Voter ID laws could be considered a new form of poll tax but instead try to convince me that Dixicrats are the same as today’s progressive liberals? Seriously? Do you REALLY think that those Dixicrats would be Democrats today?

Back to topic, As someone said here, it is a solution without a problem. I think you are correct, voting is an important right we all share and it should be protected. Throwing up barriers to voting all in the name of a problem that you have zero proof is a actually a problem seems unnecessary. So who does this new poll tax affect the most? why it just happens to be Democrat-leaning voters.

Maine voters (not exactly a very liberal/progressive state) rejected those attempts. Ohio voters have as well, they have enough signatures to suspend Ohio’s new voter laws and will force it to a popular vote.

I’m with you, I only want those entitled to vote to be voting and poll watching is an important check and balance in the system, but requiring things that can only be acquired by paying money to the govt., especially in this economy, is wrong. There has to be a better way.

*note: I didn’t say the Dixiecrats would be Democrats today, but you were trying to say they became Republicans, which is a lie. I think the Dixicrats would be shunned by both parties today. How is it a poll tax? For those who can’t afford ID’s, the ID is free. So, again, nice try. Maybe you weren’t paying attention. There is A LOT of proof. The True the Vote people saw it. Voter fraud has been a concern from both parties for a long time. And you might have a point about it affecting Dem voters, except the proof is in the pudding. In Georgia and Indiana, where the Voter ID was enacted, it DID NOT affect Democrat leaning voters.So, nice try again. Anyone without any partisan chip on their shoulder see that it’s simple common sense to ask for an ID to vote! It’s absurd that it’s hasn’t always been that way. We have to have an ID to get on a plane or even cash a check. The reason that the Voter ID law didn’t affect lower income areas is because many people don’t have bank accounts, so they have to cash their checks at cash checking places. Guess what? They require ID. So, almost everyone has an ID. And for those who really don’t, they can get one for free. I don’t know how much fairer it could be. But it’s no surprise to me that Dems would fight this. Dems have been known to give cigs to people and put them on buses to vote (their way, of course). They even fight for felons to be able to vote. There is only one reason to be against Voter ID, and that is because it may keep them from cheating.-TexasSparkle

and what do you need to have to get a “free” ID? ahh yes, paperwork that costs money like a birth certificate.

BTW, you don’t have to have ID to get on a plane. There are no laws requiring ID to fly. You can refuse to show ID at airport and they have to let you on if you pass security screening.

In a free society, the burden of proof is on you to prove that making it harder to vote is necessary. The burden isn’t on us to prove that the road block isn’t too burdensome. You have it backwards.

*note: Omg, I would like to see you try that next time you fly. Please let me know how it goes. In fact, video tape for me. I would love to see it. You also wrong on fee. State ID cards are available, free of charge, from the Texas state government.-TexasSparkle

A little google search will show you how easy it is to fly without ID, many do it. It may be a small minority but there are no laws requiring it.

It is like the receipt checkers at Wal-Mart as you are leaving, there is no law requiring you show proof of purchase when you leave a story like that but most will show it no problem, but Wal-Mart can not prevent you from leaving if you refuse to show it. (stores like Sams Club and Costco are different as it is a part of the contract you sign when you become a member that they can check your receipt)

*note: There is a provision in the Texas voter ID bill directing Texas Department of Public Safety to issue free identification cards to anyone requesting one for voting purposes. I don’t care what link you provide, it’s there. If you think I am going to go through the bill and find it, you’re crazy. You look. It’s there. Like I said, please show me anyone trying to get on a plane without an ID, and achieving that, and I will apologize. A few years ago, we had to leave one of our nephews (grown) on a flight because he had forgotten his ID. Sorry, not buying it. Besides, what if it were true? So what? ALL of us use an ID to get on a plane. We use it to get a library card. We use it to cash checks. So what the heck is your point? It’s so ridiculous to argue these nit picky things. The bottom line truth is that it does not suppress votes, and that includes across racial lines, and that has been proven in numerous studies and states. So please. I’m right. Just admit it.-TexasSparkle

As RR said, “There she goes again” Sure John Stennis and James Eastland died as democrats but Trent Lott the protegee of Stennis was elected as a republican. Yeah Sparkle, I was there as a newly arrived white outsider in 1970 when Mississippi was finally forced to integrate public schools. Stennis and Eastland probably remained Democrats to retain the power the had from seniority but all the presidential votes from whites were going to the republicans. To imply otherwise is a lie.

The push for voter ID laws has one purpose and one purpose only and that is to disenfranchise as many likely democratic votes as possible. A recent study put that number at 5 million.

And for your way back history machine.
In 1978, Cochran was elected to the United States Senate, becoming the first Republican in more than 100 years to win a statewide election in Mississippi. He has since been re-elected five times and is currently serving his sixth term in office.

THat’s a stretch. Lott? You ignore the Grand Dragon Robert Byrd, who was loved by the Dems and was the LONGEST SERVING Senator . Sorry, most Dixiecrats remained Democrats, and that is a historical fact you can’t change. You can’t out racist the Democrats of the past, no matter how hard you try. So, 5 million can’t get free state ID’s? How do you explain that in every state that has been enacted, it has not suppressed votes WHATSOEVER? Kind of hard to disenfranchise, when it’s not happening.

Per Aunt Sam “The racism of today has so little to do with just the color of one’s skin. It’s more in the area of complete intolerance of the other…be it skin color, nationality, religion, sexual preference or the newest one, political affiliation!”

Thank you for openly defending the game you liberals play. Any opposition to your constant push towards socialism is decried as racist. Of course we have known this for ages but its nice to see you try to mainstream it.

“After the Civil Rights Movement successfully challenged the Jim Crow laws and other forms of institutionalized racism, and after the Democrats as a whole came to symbolize the mainstream left of the United States, the form, if not the content, of Southern Democratic politics began to change. At that point, most Southern Democrats defected to the Republican Party, and helped accelerate the latter’s transformation into a more conservative organization.”

*note: Yeah? So? I think the argument was that the Democrat Senators and leaders who fought against integration didn’t stay in the Democratic party. And they did. And just as that wikipedia article said, after the Democrats came to symbolize the left, Democrats defected to the Republican party. It’s true.-TexasSparkle

I need to clarify…I wasn’t talking about “your” actions only. You so remind me of my daughter. It’s kind of amusing. I see that you are just a very defensive sort of person. Can’t let your guard down because you are constantly feeling attacked? It’s not about you. It’s about your very narrow views. Sometimes you make valid points, but you’re so radically to the right that you fail to see anyone else’s thoughts as being credible and well thought out. Just because you see this world differently than me doesn’t mean that your view is superior. My life experiences are no more less important than yours when it comes to voting for candidates and their platforms. I watch and listen to both parties. I think this country is in trouble because of far-left and far-right ideologies clashing. I have and will continue to support President Obama. He has done a fine job considering the partisan gridlock in Washington.

The only people that I’m aware that can get free ID are certain veterans. Can you show me where there is a way to get ‘free’ Texas ID? Your source? That is very important information.

And you really need to stop assuming that most of us are misinformed, misguided, uneducated or unable to think for ourselves. That’s somewhat condescending of you. We are your equals, Sparkle.

*note: I do not assume that most of you are misinformed or uneducated. Some are misguided, but all can think for themselves. I don’t know where you get that. You sound pretty defensive. I don’t think I have narrow views. I am not so radically right. 41% of Americans identify as conservative. Only 21% identify as liberal (see link below). So who is more radical, me or you? I am against the death penalty. I believe in a guest worker program for illegal aliens, and a easier pathway to citizenship. I was against torture (waterboarding), so you can see that your impression of my being “narrow minded” is completely wrong. Just as your impression that I am “radical.” I have never said nor implied that your life experience is less important than mine. It seems to me that you are projecting. There is a provision in the Texas voter ID bill directing Texas Department of Public Safety to issue free identification cards to anyone requesting one for voting purposes. If you don’t believe me, please feel free to find the bill and find the provision.-TexasSparkle

No, actually, we DON’T want to remove barriers to voting any more than we want to remove barriers to driving a car, buying a drink, eating food that is spoiled, or driving over the end of a bridge still under construction.

See, this is what you Lefties think makes you so clever: you think you’ve established the narrative and your base assumptions can’t be questioned. But they’re all false.

If an elderly African-American woman goes to her neighborhood polling place and sees a white man standing there, what does she think is going to happen to her? She has her ID – the same one she uses for cashing a check at the bank or getting the Senior Citizen’s discount at a restaurant. What’s “suppressing” her?

Now, you say “there’s no evidence of WIDESPREAD voter fraud,” but again you’re being disingenuous. No one alleges a grand conspiracy but there is AMPLE evidence – no, more: there’s PROOF, in the form of criminal convictions – that it does go on. And it is 99.9% found in Democrat-majority or Democrat-leaning districts.

So guess whose vote is REALLY being suppressed? MINE

Because when I vote legitimately, and someone votes illegally – multiple times, say, or without benefit of citizenship – I have just had my vote NULLIFIED. That’s a crime. You try to pooh-pooh it, but it’s a serious criminal act.

You and all your Lefty buddies know the truth. You know that Democrat vote-fraud goes on, you know it’s counted on in certain places like Chicago and Southern California, and you know that voter ID laws don’t suppress legitimate voters. You know these things but you’ll lie again and again about it because your kind believes in “by any means necessary.” Because you’re feckless crooks.

Trying to insult your fellow Americans, openly, is unnecessary in a discussion. Democrats are not Socialists. Socialists have their own party with their own platform. I actually consider myself a very conservative Democrat. And I don’t always agree with every single idea the Democrats have.

I have tried so hard to get Ms. Sparkle to just talk without insults, to no avail. You seem to want to go that direction, as well. It’s been very disheartening to read all the vitriol on this blog. The topics she chooses are quite thought-provoking at times. I enjoy listening to all sides of the issues. There’s a small window on this particular blog to have a real discussion due to Ms. Sparkle’s self-proclamation of not being a racist. I believe her. We both have a shared experience in our lives when it comes to race issues. Whether she wants it to be or not, there are racists in the Tea Party and the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. Racism is alive and well. I offer no apology in my statement that you re-posted. It’s true. Racism has a new face with new sights. I attended some Tea Party events in my area. I talked and listened. I blended well, as I’m a pretty average-looking white middle-aged woman. Not everyone was so blatant about their racist thoughts, but there were a few group discussions where they held nothing back. It wasn’t just about skin color. It was alot about religious-affiliation, nationality, and the horrible, nasty socialist ‘libruls’. It was heartbreaking. I thought we’d come further than that. I really wanted to think that my generation had gotten it. But, alas, Dr. King…

How have I been insulting? I have been no more insulting than you have. If you think that I what I allow on this blog is “vitriol” then I don’t think you get around much in the blogosphere. I’m kind of known for the civility here. I have stated many times that I know there are racists in the GOP and Democratic party, so I’m not sure what you mean by “whether she believes it or not.” I’m sure you may have heard prejudice remarks in a crowd at the tea party, just as I read about the Democrat’s Majority Leader Harry Reid’s racist remarks in saying that he was glad Obama was “lightskinned” with no “negro accent.” Also when I read about Bill Clinton telling Ted Kennedy that Obama “would have been bringing us coffee a few years ago.” It was heartbreaking. I thought we had come further than that. Prejudice is everywhere, even in the highest of offices.

Texas may have that provision for free ID, but that doesn’t change that the documents required to get an ID costs money, does the law provide free supporting documents to those seeking the free ID?

Otherwise we are back to the beginning, poll tax.

As many as 11 percent of United States citizens – more than 21 million individuals — do not have government-issued photo identification. . . . Twenty-five percent of African-American voting-age citizens have no current government-issued photo ID, compared to eight percent of white voting-age citizens. Therefore, yes, requiring photo ID will suppress minority votes.

You can cite two studies showing it doesnt affect turn-out and I can show just as many that say it does.

You are avoiding the bigger picture issue here. In a free society, the burden is on YOU to show that voter fraud is a problem that needs a solution. When you want to place barriers to voting, you damn well better have compelling evidence it is needed, I have yet to see that evidence.

What worries me more about voting are other tactics like “caging” and jamming phone lines of GOTV operations, Both things Republican operatives have been CONVICTED of doing just in the past few years.

*note: It is so absurd to imagine that there are thousands of people who don’t have any possible way to prove who they are. Good grief. Do you think the homeless vote? People who are not aware of how or don’t bother to have a SS card, birth certificate ect. are not voting anyway, and you know it. The people who want to vote are voting, and that is what is important. To repeat myself again, not only has Voter ID NOT suppressed voting, it had even increased it. Calling it a poll tax is simply ridiculous, and the only possible reason for using the term is to bring up racial discontent. Maybe not you specifically, but the people who you learn it from. The compelling evidence of voter registration fraud is real and has been verified. As I state again, voter fraud is the perfect crime. There is no way to tell who voted in your name. NONE. With an ID that cannot happen. There is no reason for any reasonable person to be against simply proving who you are before you vote. So, just be reasonable. Most Americans support it because it just makes sense.-TexasSparkle

Also, your statement that “almost all of them” remained Democrat is patently false; otherwise the South would still be Democratic. While several of that senior generation stayed Democratic, the younger generation of unreconstructed Southern conservatives–Trent Lott, Lamar Alexander, Newt, David Duke, Chambliss, Cochran, Ashcroft, Barbour, etc.–all became Republican. That is just fact. Remember Lott’s celebration of Strom’s Dixiecrat campaign of 1948?

Since Nixon’s Southern Strategy in 1972, Democrats have led the advancement of virtually every civil rights advancement here in the South, particularly New Democrats like Jimmy Carter, Al Gore Jr., Bill Clinton, Max Cleland, etc. Just as progressives have led virtually every quality-of-life advancement since the early 20th century–40-hour work week, minimum wage, child labor laws, voting rights for women and minorities, food regulations and inspections, workplace safety and anti-discrimination, etc.

*note: I didn’t say “southern Democrats.” I said the the Democrats who fought against integration and formed the Dixiecrats because of it. those you name were too young to have done that, and none of them are prejudice in the least except for David Duke, who the GOP completely rejected (he just came out for the Occupy Movement btw). Nixon did more to integrate schools than any other President or any legislation. See my post below. Democrats lead the advancement?? That is a joke. Look around you at the black community my dear. Do you see advancement? Or do you see historical unemployment, drugs, despair, and broken homes. And voting rights for women and all the other things you mentined came before 1972. Anti discrimination laws were bi partisan. And voting rights for minorities were fought for by REPUBLICANS. I laugh at you getting offended at at a benign remark of Lott’s, and yet you name Bill Clinton as one of your heros and he is the one who said to Ted Kennedy about Obama, “he would be getting us coffee a few years ago.” You don’t see racism right in front of you. YOu try to make it up from the past-TexasSparkle

This Chronicle rag has become a dumbed down paper. I know that article was bogus as many others have but the Chronicle thinks most of it’s readership is dumb. Who knows? Maybe they are right. If I were a minority or a liberal I would take offense of the Chron putting forth a totally false story to tarnish another group of people. I challenge liberals to start calling out the Chron on their hatchet jobs.

Agree 100% on how the Chron views its customers. Putting out articles like that shows their contempt for objectivity, which leads me to say we need at least ONE newspaper in this town and we don’t have it with the Chronicle. There is little reporting of truth and much supporting of the democrat agenda.

You can probably say this about most of the MSM. Like the elitists in DC, they just cannot understand that all of us are not dumb. Remember the old Southwester Bell adversisement, WE MAY BE THE ONLY PHONE COMPANY IN TOWN, BUT WE TRY TO NOT ACT LIKE IT.

Danman, so let me get this straight. You are saying that all newspapers, news stations, bloggers, and our government are in cahoots together pushing the “democratic agenda”? Hmm… See how radical that sounds. I don’t think you guys realize how silly this sounds as the words leave your keyboards after typing. And by the way, if you don’t like the Chronicles posts, why not stop reading the paper all together? Isn’t that what freedom is all about? You have the choice to not read DanMan. Pretty simple.

you are quite the little pest Barky. I see you can’t help but make another bizarre interpretation of what I said. And still not able to articulate a cogent point of your own? Surely there’s an app for that.

DanMan, lets not forget who started all this… I’m not the one who gets angry when someone disagrees with what I think. And you are right, I am a pest. I think I would’ve made a great lawyer. I regret not going to law school. Rats! Anyways, the point I’m trying to make is simple. (once again, I keep things simple) I don’t see what you see. I don’t see a “liberal media” as Sparkle likes to call it. And I honestly don’t see the “new media” as Sparkle likes to call herself. All I see is publication after publication of attacks from both sides thrown at eachother. I see journalists, bloggers, pundits, and politicians playing the blame game. Both sides like to play the “its ok because Bush did it or its ok because Clinton did it” card. Sparkle does this quite a bit. Perfect example would be the recent Cain sexual harrasment scandal. ITS NOT OK FOR CAIN TO HARASS WOMEN JUST BECAUSE PRESIDENT CLINTON DID IT! Anyways, back on point. I honestly dont think things can be fixed to suite our needs until we have a third party. Which isn’t likely anytime soon. We need a party that will look out for OUR NEEDS. Not one side or the others. That will be the REAL revolution. A revolution in which we will ACTUALLY “take our country back”. Not this silly bickering we see in the news now. Sadly I don’t think we will be alive to see it.

*note: What are you talking about? I have never said ANYTHING Bush did was ok because Clinton did it. It’s also not ok for Cain to harass women, and if he did, I condemn it just as I did with Clinton. We are still finding out things. Just as we did with Clinton. I say I am 50/50 on believing whether it was true harassment or not. It would help if we knew what the women who filed accusations said he did, but they won’t. So, please don’t speak for me. If Cain did it, he was just as wrong as Clinton (although Clinton, of course, did far more despicable things). -TexasSparkle

Mr Independent you squarly nailed the issue that will not allow us to agree. I am not looking for a party to look out for my needs. I am looking for a party that will allow me to provide for myself. I do not want to be coddled by my government (generational welfare), fed by my government (food stamps, free breakfast lunch and dinner at schools), told when and where to work by my government (NRLB), what to drive by my government (CAFE, EPA), get health care from my government (ObamaCare), get denied health care by my government (ObamaCare) and a whole host of other intrusions that liberals advocate.

And before you go off with another “You mean to say…” diatribes, no, I do not advocate eliminating government.

Obama, Carol Browner, Lisa Jackson, and so many others that are in power are either avowed socialists or associate freely with them and I find it rather unsettling that enough of our nation so bought into the hype of hope and change that they elected this bunch of leftists while watching Europe consume itself under the weight of what they have been advocating since the Wilson administration. I do not want a central command control government that dictates most facets of our daily lives.

It is my optimistic nature that allows me to savor the thought of radical liberalism being laid to rest for at least another generation.

DanMan, I gather from your comments that you don’t even know what socialism is. It is an economic and political system in which a central government owns the means of production. Nothing that Obama or the other people you mention is advocating that. Obamacare has no public option–just strict regulations on private insurers. The individual mandate was a *conservative* idea, advanced by the Heritage Foundation in the 90′s–but now all conservatives are against it! Let’s be real–businesses *love* the mandate, they just hate the attendant regulations–but the regulations (eliminating pre-existing conditions, allowing children up to age 25 to be carried on their parents’ insurance, tax breaks for small businesses providing health insurance to their employees) are popular. So, the only thing they can attack is their own idea–the individual mandate–and in doing so, try to paint the entire legislation as inherently evil, thus eliminating the new regulations–the bathwater with the baby, so to speak.

The real problem is sometimes people are unaware of the myriad rules regarding voting-residency requirements, what happens if you have a criminal background, etc. So voters and the election workers make mistakes. There has been no real, organized, systemic voter fraud in decades, but a lot of people on blogs certain those ‘other’ people are just about capable of anything, including insinuating that a reader is in favor of voter fraud because he rolls his eyes at the ‘drivers license’ requirement as averting a disaster. Getting rid of the Presidential election electoral college is also more popular than keeping it-how do you feel about that?

*note: See? There is NO WAY to know if there has been voter fraud. None. Once the vote is made, there is no way to prove who voted. So please stop with that. Many people on both sides have had concerns with voter fraud for decades. It’s not hard to make our voting system clean. There is no reason NOT TO. I see no reason to get rid of the electoral college.-TexasSparkle

So we don’t know who ‘really’ voted and thus–democracy has been thwarted.

So in response to the knowledge that a massive conspiracy has been hatched by the still powerful and insidious remnants of ACORN, the Electoral College members elect YOU as President, because there is nothing preventing an individual of the Electoral College from voting for whomever THEY feel is best for the Presidency.

It’s true Sparkle, you could be President despite your own vote and since this is a possibilty, just like an entire hoard of democracy thwartin’ vote riggin’ liberals, what should we do about it?

The biggest voter fraud is voter caging like Jeb Bush and Kathleen Harris did in Florida. Another form of voter fraud is putting two machines in a working class district where people get paid hourly and making them stand in line for many hours while making sure that the suburbs have plenty of machines. That effects election outcomes. Ask Ken Blackwell in Ohio.

The bigger problem is having private companies run the voting machines computer software. How about advocating for transparency in the voting machine software, and mandating a paper trail? Wouldn’t you really like to know where your vote goes?

Thanks, TS. One of my comments went astray this morning. Must be my internet service.

I agree with you and would like us all to get away from racial neighborhoods. That’s a great goal for our county. But it is a very difficult goal to reach especially since economics plays a huge part. Poor people will always live in cheaper housing and rich people will live in more costly areas. The rest of us live wherever we can afford. My neighborhood is diverse: black, white, hispanic, asian, people from Inida, Pakistan and Africa. Even a few democrats.

I generally appose any measures that would hinder legitimate voters from doing their duty. Monitoring is not a bad idea, but we have to sometimes monitor the monitors to make sure something bad isn’t happening.

Just to be picky: do you know how many instances of fraudulent voting was uncoverd by the King Street Patriots organization in the last few election cycles?

poboy

*note: I’m pretty sure I published this comment earlier, but like I said in that response, I did write about the specific violations that the Patriots saw and they did report it. I don’t have the numbers. But I think all of us see voting as sacred. Every single vote. Elections are too close for ANY fraud. We all want the same thing. Clean votes from everyone. There are those monitoring on both sides, so there is no problem there. I also come from a very diverse neighborhood. On my street alone I have black, white, Asian, Indian, (South) African, and Iranian too. I am very grateful for that for my kids especially. And I live in a upper middle class neighborhood. So it’s not always defined by race. Contrary to what the media what have you believe, minorities are very successful too.-TexasSparkle

There are great examples of minority success all around us. Not only Gen. Powell and Secretary Rice, as well as Herman Cain, but regular folks, too. At one time I worked for the city of Houston in a department that had a large percentage of minorities working in everything from mowing grass to annual budgetting to computer support. All of these employees were a success in their own way and many lived in middle class diverse neighborhoods like you do. Each of them wants and needs the freedom to vote as they wish (even though I may not agree with their particular candidate!). That’s all I want protected.

the partisan gridlock blog on the chronicle had a posting about the king street patriots and/or true the vote people, which is completely opposite from what you posted, but then again, you were on a rant about the opinion page editorial from sundays chron.

I don’t think it’s the opposite, it says a very different thing. I don’t agree with the author of that book regarding welfare recipients not voting, but what he said is very different than what the women in the Chron article said. The author of that book, Matthew Vadum, is saying that he doesn’t feel that uninformed, non productive members of society should vote. I totally disagree with his assessment, but it is not racial. Most welfare recipients are white. So, by sheer numbers, if his wish came true, it would be a lot more whites not being able to vote than blacks. The authors of the post in the Chron were claiming that voter oppression would affect the minorities, leaving the false impression that that voter ID would suppress their vote. That has proven to not be the case. But, which story do you think will get play on black radio, liberal newspapers, and the MSM. The fact that voter ID has proven not suppress minority voting? or the false narrative of these two women? It will be the latter sadly.

I would like to add that our founding fathers actually considered limiting voting to land owners and business owners. Their theory being they actually had a buy into the system and are more likely to be aware of the issues. There is some merit to that at that time. Since illiteracy was rampant, etc. But the income tax coming out of our checks changed that dynamic and most do pay into the system.

I truly hope votes go to the polls informed. But I see evidence of the opposite. Oprah says vote, they vote. A radio station says vote this way, they vote that way.

Poll watching is legal and has been for years. I am for it. I am for anything that keeps us honest.

“The idea of tea party volunteers storming polling places evokes strong images of Jim Crow-era voter suppression.” Speaking of HAMMERS as in “dumb as a..”, what did you think Jim Crow-era was referring to Jason11?

You are so hyperdefensive about race you throw a fit whenever race is mentioned…this fit always involves you insisting you and your team are not racist and its really the tricky Democrats who are the real racists. This is your formula every single time. Even when nobody is calling you racist.

The last time there was massive voter suppression efforts was Jim Crow. So current voter suppression efforts, regardless of the suppressors reasons, will remind people of the last voter suppression efforts.

The article pretty clearly indicates the suppression is not race based but is party based as it targets the groups most likely to vote Democratic.

Race is such a weak spot for you you lose basic reading cognition abilities when it comes up. Your argument seems to be that since the article mentions ‘Jim Crow’, those people are calling you racist. Thats silly. Relax a little bit.

*note: I never say Democrats are the real racists. I have known racists both Democrat and Republican. You might have a point, IF THERE WERE ANY SUPPRESSION. But the FACTS ARE there has BEEN NONE where the laws were enacted. Sorry, but when someone brings up Jim Crow laws, they have made it racial. Period. Race is not a “weak spot” for me. I grew up watching brave black men and women fight for equality and that means a great deal to me. Because of that it makes me SICK when race baiters try to divide us after all those brave people did TO UNITE US. So, yes, I do get upset when unfair accusations are made to people who share my beliefs. -TexasSparkle

The opinion by Dianis and Sanders, claiming that “partisan” Voter ID laws are a “strategy” to suppress minority voter turnout, contained many factual errors. I might think that the authors were simply uninformed, if I weren’t familiar with their liberal advocacy groups that receive funding from billionaire George Soros, and hadn’t seen the same talking points in dozens of similar articles recently, as a number of other states considered Voter ID laws (compare this example from Wisconsin: http://www.youngvoter.org/cav/voter-id-law-attacks-democracy#more-2605).

“Voter fraud is not a problem in Texas.” – The truth is that hundreds of cases of voter fraud have been observed and documented in Texas – fraudulent registrations, absentee ballot harvesting, intentional voting in the wrong district, double voting, and voter impersonation. Were the cases “prosecutable”? Mostly not, since it’s difficult to establish an evidence trail after the fact.

“Voter impersonation is exceedingly rare” – Impersonation fraud is impossible to prosecute, since the fraudster is, by definition, using a false name and therefore can’t be traced. But it CAN be (and has been) detected when the actual voter goes to the polls and finds his vote has been stolen. And it can be prevented with photo Voter ID requirements.

“Most instances of improper voting involve registration and eligibility issues, none of which would be prevented by the new photo ID restriction” – Voter impersonation can be used in conjunction with registration fraud, as in a massive case prosecuted in New York in the 1980s that involved registering thousands of nonexistent voters, in whose names fraudsters then voted. A photo Voter ID requirement would have prevented this fraud.

“Numerous studies have shown that photo-ID laws do lead to voter suppression” – In fact, studies have shown that in Georgia and Indiana, where Voter ID laws were in place in 2008, turnout INCREASED. And in upholding Indiana’s law, the Supreme Court noted that there was NO evidence of a single voter being denied the opportunity to vote due to lack of ID.

“These laws are discriminatory for African-Americans, Latinos, students, the elderly and those with disabilities” – To suggest that people are incapable of acquiring an ID solely because of their race is ridiculous and insulting. If the authors intended to equate African-Americans and Latinos with “the poor”, Texas also requires a driver’s license or state photo ID when applying for welfare such as Food Stamps, TANF, and Medicaid. Texas’ Voter ID law exempts people with disabilities, and the elderly can – and often do – vote by mail.

“King Street Patriots have vowed to send individuals to observe activities at polling places, which could intimidate voters” and “question the rights of fellow Texans to cast their ballots” – Texas law allows all candidates on a ballot to assign Poll Watchers to every polling location to observe the voting process and ensure fair conduct of elections. These civic-minded volunteers stand all day long at the polls, not to “intimidate” or “question” VOTERS (they’re prohibited from communicating with voters at all), but to watch the election workers (judges and clerks) and ensure they follow the law. Poll Watchers have no authority to intervene in any way, other than to advise election workers of an observed problem, and if it continues, to report it to county or state election officials.

The authors suggest a “strong partisan bent” to voting integrity advocates. I would suggest an equally strong (Democrat) partisan bent among opponents to voting integrity. Voters themselves consistently express support for Voter ID laws by wide margins (75% in a June 2011 Rasmussen poll).

Considering that a recent Texas House race was decided by only 4 votes, ANY amount of voter fraud is unacceptable, as it can change the outcome of elections.

The truth is, Lana, that people who have worked at the polls have seen with their own eyes everything from election workers (unintentionally?) not following correct procedures to improper voter assistance to outright fraud (allowing ineligible people to vote, casting multiple votes, etc). And there have been hundreds of cases of fraud all around the country being investigated, prosecuted and convicted.

Voter ID requirements are one way to ensure free and fair elections in accordance with Texas law – ensuring that all eligible voters, and only eligible voters, are allowed to cast a ballot.

A procedure to enforce an existing law is in no way analogous to creating de facto new laws via regulations designed to limit or control behavior.

“black radio”…”which story do you think will get play on black radio….”

You referred to “black radio” in your post. I am well aware that you are not racist, but you seem to believe that their exists a radio station which is targeted towards a particular group of people based on the color of their skin rather than their taste in music or socio-economic class.

What station is this and do they have an internet presence??? I would love the opportunity to listen in to hear what the “blacks” are up to, and how “their” media pushes certain viewpoints on “them”. Sadly in my area, we do not have radio stations which are geared towards the particular races that live in my area. The programming here is generally driven by different demographics than skin color such as levels of intelligence, political persuasion, taste in music, enthusiasm for sports.

Texas really is old-school I guess.

*note: Are you serious? You have never heard of “black radio?” You want a list? Sure! Here ya go!-TexasSparkle

KCOH way down on the right. Great fishing show on Friday afternoon and Michael Harris is a pretty good intervier and commentator. Excellent sports talk, especially high school. One of my radio buttons for sure.

There has never been a problem in this country with people trying to vote illegally. There is, however, a long, sad and well-documented history of efforts to stop people from voting.

This is a disengenious solution in search of a problem.

Please provide documented studies of successful voter fraud if that is going to be your basis for A Voter ID.

Why would any sane person when confronted with actual facts about Voter fraud, (Voter registration fraud is not the same so spare me those references) continue to champion a Voter ID law? The answer lies in the true intent of the GOP overlords. Suppress the poor, minority vote that tradionally votes Democratic.
Its as plain as the nose on you face. Own it.

*note: You obviously really believe that, and I find that very sad. Proving who you are before you vote is suddenly an insane burden. It’s mind boggling. Again, voter registration fraud has been proven. Voter fraud is impossible to prove, it’s the perfect crime. There is no way to prove who voted in your name. NONE. That is why this works. Why would anyone be against something that easily ensures clean votes? It just doesn’t make sense. You can believe that the GOP wants to suppress votes with Voter ID laws if you wish, but the facts are that in every State where it has been enacted it has not, and has even increased voting in some places. So, I guess the evil GOP overlords failed in their attempt to suppress voting. I wonder why they keep urging states to have these clean votes when it’s not working for them? Huh.-TexasSparkle

” I wonder why they keep urging states to have these clean votes when it’s not working for them? Huh.-TexasSparkle”

I think you and I are both smart enough to know the answer to this. It is much easier to convince the public that someone who has been found to use drugs recreationly should not be allowed a drivers license, than it is to claim that a college kids smoking a joint should loose his right to vote.

This “voter ID” thing is step one. I’m sure if someone asked you right now if you were in favor of step two (placing much stronger restrictions on who does and doesn’t get ID’s), you would see the connection, but in three years it can quietly pass through the Republican controlled legislature as a rider on a budget and quietly disenfranchise thousands without much media until it is too late.

If you really can’t see that the people behind this “voter fraud” movement are playing the long con here, you probably also believe that (1) racism is no longer a problem in America, (2) the rich pay 53% of the taxes in America, (3) that the “deficit problem” (there are people lined up to buy our debt and the interest rate is at historic lows, so apparently the “free market” is wrong about this if you believe this is a problem in the first place)is mostly the result of Obama’s economic policies, (4) the Large Banks and Multi-National corporations will start hiring more people in America if we lower the corporate tax rate….. I could go on, but seriously, this is about how easy it will be in the future to take away voting rights… not about showing ID at the polls.

Are you serious? No evidence of voter fraud? Wow, funny how you ignore the evidence when it doesn’t support your agenda. Can you say ACORN,New Black Panthers, to name just a smidge. I don’t undersatnd how showing proof of identity is racism.That is a stupid argument, but that is standard operating procedure for leftists. There are hundreds of times when you are asked to prove who you are or that you have the right to be somewhere. Nonsense, that is all this is.

When one registers to vote, one has to supply documentation to receive a voter registration card. That is enough.
Spare me the “perfect crime” nonsense. SHOW ME where someone got elected due to “VOTER FRAUD”.
It does not happen. Oh, and Carol – regarding ACORN – that was voter REGISTRATION fraud not voter FRAUD.
And the black panther reference was about VOTER INTIMIDATION – NOT voter FRAUD.
Read your FACTS and understand the differences.

I am posting as a comment a letter I submitted to the Chronicle which they elected not to print (pun intended).

I’m writing in response to the misinformation in the article “Democracy Under Assault” in last Sunday’s paper. I was greatly taken aback at the inaccuracy of the article and the attack on pollwatchers.

I’ve been a poll watcher in three elections. Poll watchers serve at the request of candidates. They don’t just “show up.” Secondly, poll watchers are the eyes and ears of the Republic, not the mouth. So, we can’t talk at all unless we have a question and then and only then do we speak to election workers. We’re not allowed by Texas law to speak to voters, wear name tags or carry signs to indicate that we are poll watchers. If we do, the election judge can have us removed. I attended three hours of excellent training with True the Vote, an outstanding program organized by King Street Patriots that trains Democrats, Republicans, and independents on being election judges, election clerks and poll watchers. They even prepared a comprehensive handbook on Texas law to explain my duties.

Our job is to watch, take notes and report incidents to County election officials. In this recent election, I did have an incident to report. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee approached me during early voting, demanded to know my name, and told me that because I was white that my presence was intimidating voters. She even left her staff member, Mr. Reginald Williams to observe me. Now, who is intimidating who?

Poll watchers are not intimidating anybody. That is a line being promoted by some leftist agenda. The fact is voters hardly know we are there. The workers know we are there and appreciate us. We make their jobs easier. As poll watchers, we’re getting involved and educating ourselves about this sacred right and ensuring that our election process runs properly and fairly. I have greater confidence in my vote knowing that every precinct has the eyes and ears of Texas upon it.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) has been indispensable to guaranteeing minority voters access to the ballot in Texas. Texas has experienced a long history of voting discrimination against its Latino and African-American citizens dating back to 1845. The enactment of the VRA in 1965 began a process of integrating Latinos, African Americans, and more recently, Asian Americans, into the political structures of Texas. Yet, a review of the minority voting experience in Texas since the 1982 VRA reauthorizations indicates that this process remains incomplete. Infringements on minority voting rights persist and noncompliance with the VRA continues at the state and local level. The VRA has proven to be an essential tool for enhancing minority inclusion in Texas.

Those opposing the VRA do so to keep an obvious demographic from voting anything but Republican in Texas (and Florida, for that matter). Where have all the Bushes gone?